New Nagra HD DAC

[Ross]

The Nagra headphone output is not all that powerful, so fairly efficient headphones are needed. The Final Audio D8000 Pro and LCD4Z work well.

However, I don't find the Nagra headphone output all that good. My EAR HP4 and Niimbus US4 are really much better. I haven't heard the BHSE and SR009 but I am also surprised by the comment that the Nagra headphone output is as good.

It is a great DAC but works best with an external amp in my opinion.

 

[SurgeTO]

Right - to be fair, I had the BHSE paired with another DAC, so I didn’t do a proper comparison of just the headphone amps.

 

[bmichels]

Right - to be fair, I had the BHSE paired with another DAC, so I didn’t do a proper comparison of just the headphone amps.

So... you know what to do: Pair the BHSE to the NAGRA and you may fall in love with your BHSE again

 

[rmsanger]

In case anyone is shopping For one

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisag4d5-nagra-hd-dac-da-converters

 

[chesebert]

I think Nagra is overpriced compared to Weiss but Nagra has that equipment porn feel to it

 

[SurgeTO]

In case anyone is shopping For one

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisag4d5-nagra-hd-dac-da-converters

Already sold?!

 

[bmichels]

My friend who attended HighEnd in Munich found the NAGRA Room to be the "best sound of the show". May be the 400.000 € Wilson Audio speakers helped...

 

[SurgeTO]

Agreed. Nagra is just KILLING IT these days. Their DACs are second to none for the price point or even above.
BTW, those are the Wilson XVX and retail for around $300K USD.

 

[topofthepop1]

The Nagra headphone output is not all that powerful, so fairly efficient headphones are needed. The Final Audio D8000 Pro and LCD4Z work well.

However, I don't find the Nagra headphone output all that good. My EAR HP4 and Niimbus US4 are really much better. I haven't heard the BHSE and SR009 but I am also surprised by the comment that the Nagra headphone output is as good.

It is a great DAC but works best with an external amp in my opinion.

EAR HP4 is still one of the best if not the best sounding amp ever made. For sure.

 

[DrPo]

Question to Nagra Tube DAC users: which input do you prefer? In my case I find a reclocked AES/EBU input to be better than USB, even though the DAC uses an internal DSDx2 upsampling

 

[SurgeTO]

Question to Nagra Tube DAC users: which input do you prefer? In my case I find a reclocked AES/EBU input to be better than USB, even though the DAC uses an internal DSDx2 upsampling

I think that depends on how the source treats each mode. For example, the Taiko Extreme has a special USB driver.

 

[Jacky5555]

Hi all,
Normally I use XLR cable output to Pre-amp.
Yesterday I tried a RCA cable to Pre-amp and it sounded significantly louder than XLR (I kept both RCA and XLR at the same time, and just changed input of the Preamp to hear the different easily).
Is it designed like that ?

 

[106099]

Hi all,
Normally I use XLR cable output to Pre-amp.
Yesterday I tried a RCA cable to Pre-amp and it sounded significantly louder than XLR (I kept both RCA and XLR at the same time, and just changed input of the Preamp to hear the different easily).
Is it designed like that ?

Which Nagra HD DAC you using?

 

[SurgeTO]

Hi all,
Normally I use XLR cable output to Pre-amp.
Yesterday I tried a RCA cable to Pre-amp and it sounded significantly louder than XLR (I kept both RCA and XLR at the same time, and just changed input of the Preamp to hear the different easily).
Is it designed like that ?

The Nagra DAC is not real XLR. Just use RCA, it will sound better (as you noted).

 

[Jacky5555]

The Nagra DAC is not real XLR. Just use RCA, it will sound better (as you noted).

I'm not sure if RCA is better but it sounds surprisingly louder.
It seems like when both RCA and XLR are used, the Nagra HD dac gives much more output via RCA.